lindamE1437KD
02 Mar 2025
Anticipo che il mio voto non è dato all’escursione in sé, ma al tour operator (art de Cuivre in questo caso).
Il tour operator di volta in volta si può affidare a operatori locali diversi, quindi l’escursione e le guide non saranno sempre uguali.
Il prezzo (70 euro per la tenda standard) è in linea (forse anche leggermente inferiore, se non si contratta) con quelli che si trovano in loco per la stessa escursione.
Nella nostra escursione erano coinvolti:
1. Il driver che porta dall’hotel al pulmino
2. Il driver che porta da marrackech a zagora
3. i berberi della passeggiata in cammello e dell’accampamento notturno
4. La guida a Ouarzazate
5. La guida a Ait-Ben-Haddou
L’escursione in sé non è stata male, ma le foto sono un po’ ingannevoli. Quello che si va a vedere non è il Sahara, ma il deserto di zagora, che se lo cercate sulla carta è un triangolino con qualche duna e tanti “accampamenti berberi”, ben separato dal sahara. Per arrivarci da Marrakech ci vogliono 8 ore di macchina, si arriva alla sera e si riparte all’alba.
Il viaggio è un po’ lungo, ma si attraversa l’Alto Atlante e si vedono paesaggi molto belli. Contrariamente a quanto scritto sul programma, non c’è stata la visita agli Atlas studios e non ci hanno fatto entrare a Ouarzazate, perché stavano girando un film.
Arrivati a zagora, Si lasciano le valige sul pulmino e si parte in cammello per l’accampamento. Nel nostro caso il percorso in cammello è durato un’ora e alla partenza il driver non ha spiegato nulla, quindi alcuni non hanno portato né le cose per la notte, né la giacca. Quello che mi sembrato di capire essere comune ai diversi accampamenti è che non ci sono lenzuola (solo coperte, non pulite) e che fa molto freddo di notte. Noi eravamo a fine febbraio, e in tenda c’erano 6 gradi. Portatevi quindi uno zaino con vestiti pesanti e necessario per la notte.
I bagni, nel nostro caso, erano puliti e la cena buona.
Siamo rimasti invece molto delusi dal tour operator per la assoluta mancanza di comunicazione: avevamo bisogno di alcune informazioni prima di partire e gli ho inviato un messaggio tramite trip advisor e due mail (a due indirizzi diversi) senza avere risposta. Poi abbiamo provato a chiamare infinite volte e siamo pure andati a cercare il tour operator a Marrakech per parlargli di persona, ma all’indirizzo presente sul sito, non esiste.
Un altro tour operator della zona fortunatamente ci ha dato un numero whatsapp a cui finalmente hanno risposto (solo dopo averli minacciati di fare un reclamo a tripadvisor).
In conclusione, l’escursione non è stata male, ma questo tour operator è da evitare.
Planning and communication was done well. Our tour guide, Lahcen, was very knowledgeable and friendly and gave us an authentic Moroccan experience. Our driver Yousef was incredibly reliable and made a long journey feel enjoyable and memorable.
We'd booked the private, 2-day tour.
At the pick-up point the tour boss tried to add us to a minibus rammed with other tourists. We refused. After 20 mins of arguing, we were given a private guide, as paid for. The boss tried to claim that the private element just meant a private tent in the desert!
Don't let this put you off..... you just have to stand your ground and refuse to join a large group (other reviews suggest this is a regular occurrence).
But from there on, the whole tour was superb. Our private guide Amin was a lovely, sweet guy (even more so given that the two-day trip was a surprise for him haha).
Amin was very knowledgeable, stopped frequently for visits to villages/towns, cafes, restaurants, viewpoints and of course the bathroom! It is a six-hour drive to the Sahara in total but these frequent stops made it seem very manageable (I believe it takes significantly longer with a large group in a minibus).
Amin was very happy to personalise the trip, always asking if we were interested in stopping at/visiting places (for instance we have no interest in shopping so Amin was happy to not visit shops etc).
The sites - such as a lovely local market where we not only walked around to soak up the atmosphere but also had a lovely sit-down in a local traders' cafe for mint-tea - where all fabulous.
And we had a lovely local guide Aziz to show us around Ait Ben Haddou. Other reviews have suggested this was an unexpected extra cost but for us it was included as part of the overall tour fee (maybe because we stood our ground at the start?)
And then of course the one-hour camel ride to the tents.... great fun, quite comfortable with another lovely local guy, Muhammed (who stayed the night, showed us the sunset, sunrise etc).
Again, with the private tour this was just the two of us, led by Muhammed, then staying in the more luxurious camp enclosure.
The tent was glorious.... comfortable, large with everything needed for a true, Saharan experience (although admittedly quite luxurious!)
The food throughout the day and at the camp was superb. Confusingly, on the first day lunch was included but not brekkie. According to the itinerary it should have been the other way around... but didn't matter.
After dinner at the camp there is a lovely area to lounge, chat, have tea etc.
Unfortunately an American woman arrived later and decided this area was for her alone. She immediately turned her phone on full volume, placed it in the centre of the area and played her music while singing and dancing (neither of which were good!!). She, I'm guessing, was in her late 50s but acted like a self-absorbed, narcissistic teenager that hasn't yet developed full social skills.
We did feel the staff should have said something but as it had been a long, tiring day, we decided to head for bed (as did everyone not in her immediate circle of narcissists). Hard to believe some people's ignorance.
It does get chilly at night so bring some layers, but the bed is large, warm and comfortable.
Next morning, up early for brekkie and sunrise, followed by 30-minute camel ride back to our car.
The trip back to Marrakech is similar to the first day but with fewer major sights.
Overall this was a fabulous couple of days not to be missed.... truly lovely to see more of Morocco, experience the Sahara and escape the hub-bub of Marrakech.
The only reason I've given 4 stars rather than 5 was the unnecessary need to argue at the start, to receive the tour paid for, and perhaps the staff allowing the ignorant woman to take over in the evening.
But a superb tour!! (And many thanks again to Amin, Mohammed and the staff at the camp.... I had unfortunately picked up an illness a day earlier and everyone was very kind throughout. As was Amin on the drive home when my wife also became ill).